Yarn carrier selector mechanism for knitting machines



, May 28, P. KRENKEL YARN CARRIER SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR KNITTINGMACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5', 1952 May28, 1940. P, K-RENKEL-2,202,528-

YARN CARRIER SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 5, 19523 Sheets-Sheet- 2 Bnnentor PAUL KRENKEL.

dttorneg May 28, 1940. P. KRENKEL. 2,202,528

YARN CARRIER SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 5, 19323 Sheets-Sheet 3 38b 38a v 7 78 65 63 G E I; 7.9 1 -24 Snucntor Raw.Ifi2ENKEL.

(I Hon-neg 'umrso STATES PATENT OFFICE YARN cannula FOR KNITTIN SELECTORMECHANISM GMACBINES Paul- Krenkel, Philadelphia, 1a., asslgnor Textile'Machine Works, Beading, Pa.

Application December 5, 19:2, Serial in. 645.004

39 Claims.

My invention is a yarn carrier selector mechanism for knitting machines,and particularly for full-fashioned silk hosiery knitting machines ofthe Cotton type, and my improvements are particularly designed tofacilitate the manufacture of ringless" silk hosiery in which at leastthree successive courses of loops are formed from yarn drawn fromdifferent sources.

' The type of 'full-fashioned-silk hosiery knitting machine -towhich myimprovements are particularly applicable is characterized by a-bank ofen- 'masse ,movable knitting needles along which the needles.

yarnis laid and between which the yarn is kinked. The yarn for'eachcourse is laid by one of a series of carriers mounted on a series ofcarrier rods and operable selectively through a friction box andfriction rod reciprocated rectilineally by a Coulier mechanism, whichconcurrently reciprocates rectilineally a slur bar (sometimes called 7 aflight bar) having a slur cock for sequentially advancing sinkers forkinking the yarn between Suitable stops limit the rectilineal travel ofthe carrier rods before the end of the throw of the friction rod andslur bar by the Coulier mechanism, and during this overthrow thefriction rod slides through the friction box against the frictionthereof. 1

By my improvements, the friction box may be automatically connected witha different carrier rod at the end of each'rectilineal movement so thata yarn from one source of supply may be laid along the needles-on themovement of the friction rod in one direction, a yarn from a secondsource of supply may be laid along the needles on the movement of thefriction rod in the opposite direction, a yarn from the third source ofsupply may be laid along the needles on the movement of the friction rodin the original direction, a yarn from the first source of supply may-belaid along the needles on the second movement of the friction rod in thereverse direction, and so on, without any idle courses or "drawbacks."

The connection of the friction box with the respective carrier rods iseffected through se- 1 lector mechanism supported, and traversedlongitudinally of the mechine, by the friction box.

Actuation of the selector mechanism to effect "selection of the carrierrods is preferably effected,

after each throw or traverse of the friction box is completed, throughrotary cam mechanism supported adjacent to the slur; and friction rodsbut independently of the friction box, and motion is transmitted,through such cam 'mechanism from the main shaft of the machine to the(Cl. 66-12'I) selector mechanism throughpositively acting parts andwithout the intervention of a pattern chain.

Such positively acting parts preferably include the usual couliermechanism and slur bar and in 5 addition thereto comprise wedge-likecams on the slur bar, pawl and ratchet mechanism, a rotatable camshafthaving the rotary selector cams thereon, and lever, link and splinemechanisms connecting the selector cams and selectors. The 10 wedge-likecams are so spaced that only one H thereof engages. and actuates thepawl and ratchet mechanism on each throw of theslur bar to rotate stepby step the rotatable cam shaft which has its axis parallel to the axison which ll the selector mechanism turns, rotates or armatelyoscillates. a

Such shaft is mounted in stationary bearings and lies adjacent to theslur bar which, together V with the fricton rod, moves rectilineallywith respect to the shaft throughout the throw of the slur bar andfriction rod. 'i heifriction box, to-

gether with the selector mechanism thereon, is

moved by the friction rod rectilineally with respect to the selectorcama'cam shaft and pawl g andv ratchet mechanism during the laying ofthe yarn, and stands stationary with respect there- 7 to'during theoverthrow of the friction rod and v the actuation of the selectors.

My improvements further provide for holding 30 or biasing a plurality ofcarrier. rods against their 'end stops while a selectoris'moved by themechanism above described into position for engaging one of the heldrods to traverse it across the machine on the next throw of the frictionrod. 35 Such holding and biasing is preferably eflected by a secondselector, which remains stationary, and holds the friction boxstationary, during the friction rod overthrow and the movement of thefirst-named selector into engaging position by the slur bar through therectilineally stationary cam 1 When the'flrst-name'd selector has movedthe selected carrier rod to the opposite end 'of the machine against itsand stop, such selector remains stationary and holds the rod it has Justmoved and another carrierrod against their end stops, and also, whilestill stationary, such selector holds the friction boxstationary'through'out the friction rod overthrow and while the secondsonamed selector is moved, into position to engage 0. held rod, by theaction of a slur bar cam through the rectilineally stationary camshaftant. other mechanism above described during the overthrow of thefriction By eliminating any move- 3 ment of the first named selector ina plane transverse to the carrier rods during the friction rod overthrowthere is avoided any possibility of rectilineal movement of the frictionbox during the friction-rod-overthrow, such as may occur when theselector engaging a'rod is moved transversely thereto during anoverthrow movement of the friction rod.

Each selector has a notched edge movable transversely to the carrierrods and forming tongues so spaced as to permit the engagement of aselector with a boss on any one of a'plurality of carrier rods or topermit the boss on any one of the carrier rods to pass through a notchaforesaid upon the movement of the selector rectilineally along thecarrier rods.

The selectors preferably have splined connections with a pair ofconcentric shafts mounted on the friction box so that they may beindependently turned, rotated or oscillated through an arcuate movementon an axis parallel with, the axis of the selector cam shaft throughlinks and levers rocked by the selector cams on the cam sh'aft.

The characteristic features and advantages of my improvements willfurther appearfrom the following description and the accompanyingdrawings in illustration thereof:

In the drawings, Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a portionof the knitting head of a full-fashioned knitting machine illustratingdiagrammatically the knitting of a portion of a fabric from yarns laidfrom three sources in sequence by the mechanism of my invention; Fig. 2is a transverse sectional view of a conventional knitting machineequipped with my carrier rod selecting attachment; Fig. 3 is an enlargedtransverse sectional view taken substantially on the lines 3-3 of Figs.and 6; Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary view of the selector plate complementaryto the selector plate shown in Fig. 3 and indicating its positionrelative tothe latter at the same point in the cycle of operation; Fig.5 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section of the carrier rodselector mechanism looking fromthe front of the machine; Fig. 6 is anelevation of cam and lever mechanism by which the selector mechanism isoperated, the view being taken from the front of the machine; Fig. 7 isa detached end view of pawl and ratchet mechanism and associated partstaken from the right hand end of Fig. 6; and Fig. '8 is an elevation ofthe cam mechani'sm shown in Fig. 6 but with the lever mechanism andother parts removed.

My improved attachment is shown in the drawings applied to a usual typeof full-fashioned silk hosiery knitting machine having a.

series of thread carriers and thread carrier rods including the carriers23, 24, and Z5 and carrier rods 23a, 24a and 25a to which the carriersare respectively connected and which are mounted housing 21 sleeved onthe usual friction rod 28' and provided with usual friction shoes (notshown) operable by the lever 29 for clamping the friction box to thefriction rod so that the friction box is moved by the friction rod whenthe latter is not'opposed by resistance greater than the tractive effectof the friction shoes. When the resistance to the movement of thefriction box exceeds the tractive efiect of the friction shoes on thefriction rod 28, the friction rod slides through the friction box in theusual manner, and when the lever 29 is thrown to position to loosen thefriction shoes from the friction rod 28 the latter may slide freelythrough the friction box.

An extension 21 of the friction box housing 21 has journalled therein asleeve 30 to which is fixed a radial plate 3|. A key 32 is fixed to thesleeve 3|! and this key is engaged in a spline slot 33 in the bottom ofatube 34 journalled in bearings 35. and 36 mounted at the ends of thebed 25. A sleeve 31 is sleeved'within the sleeve 30 and has fixedthereto a radial plate 38 similar to the plate 3|. A key 39 is fixed tothe sleeve 31 and is engaged in a spline slot 40 in a shaft 4|journalled in the tube 34. The upper side of the tube 34 and the lowerportion of the sleeve 31 each have a segment cut therefrom to form anopening permitting limited relative rotation of the shafts 4| and 34 andtheir attached parts. Nuts 43 and 44 are screwed onto the threaded end31 of the sleeve 31, the face of the nut- 43 engaging the face of theplate 3| so that the plates 3| and 38 may be adjusted in fixed axialpositions relatively to one another by drawing up the nuts.

The plate 3| is provided with the depending tongues 33a and, 3|b spacedby the notch 3|c, and the plate 38 is similarly provided with thedepending tongues 38a and 38b spaced by the notch 38'(:.

The shafts 34 and 4| have fixed to the respective ends thereofrespective arms 34a. and Ma having pivotally connected therewith therespective links 45 and 46. These links are respectively connected withthe levers 41 and 48 which are fulcrumed on a shaft 49 mounted inbrackets 50 supported by an arm 5| attached to the frame of the machine.Links 52 and 53 connect the respective levers 41 and 48 with the leverarms 54 and 55 fulcrumed on a shaft 56 fixed in the bearings 51 of thebrackets 50.

The levers 41 and 54 have the double track rollers 58 and 59 pivotedthereto and engaged by a complementary double track cam 60 and thelevers 48 and 55 have similar double track rollers 6| and, 62 pivotedthereto and engaged by a complementary double track cam 63 so that thelever motions are at all timespositively controlled without the need ofsprings.

The cams 60 and 63 are formed integrally with a sleeve 64 looselyjournalled on the usual narrowing shaft 55 which passes through collarsI 56 of the brackets 50, and these collars prevent axial movement of thecams along the narrowing shaft. A brake band 68, adjustably fixed to thebracket 5|, has its friction surface seated in the groove 69 of thesleeve 64 to prevent movement of the cams by the narrowing shaft or theoverthrow of the movement of the cams.

The cam 63 has fixed thereto a ratchet wheel adapted to be rotated by apawl 1| pivotally mounted on an arm 12 of the collar 13 sleeved on anextension 64' of the sleeve 64. An arm 14 of the collar 13 is pivotallyconnected with a link 15, the opposite'end of which is pivotallyconnected with a slide or rod 16 reciprocable reotilinearlyin thehousing 11. The lower end of the shaft 16 has pivotally connectedtherewith a roller '18 adapted to be engaged by cams 18 and 88 fixedadjacent to opposite ends of the usual slur cock bar 8|.

In the position of the mechanism shown in the drawings, the carrier 28is stationary at the left hand endv of the machine looking from thefront, the carrier 24 is stationary at the right hand end of themachine, and thecarrief fl is being moved toward the left to completethe lay-' ing of the yarn 8 to form a course of loops. In this positionof the mechanism the selector plate 88 is so set that in starting fromthe right it has cleared the lug 24b and its flange 88b engages the lug25b to effect the leftward movement of the carrier rod 25a and carrier25 as a result of the leftward movement of the friction rod 28 andfriction box 21. During this leftward movement the selector plate 8| isso set that its notch 8|c will clear the lug 28b of the carrier rod 28ato permit the complete throw of the carrier 25.

When the friction box 21 reaches its extreme left position the tongue88b of the selector plate 88 engages the end .of the lug 28b so'that theimpact of the carrier rod 251: against its usual stop shall not causethe rod 28a to jump out of position. The distance between the innerfaces of the plates 8| and 88 is slightly greater than the width of thelugs 28b, 24b or 25b, so that when the box 21 is in its extreme leftwardposition there is slight clearance between the innerface'of theselector'plate 8| and the endof the.

lug 281), so that the selector plate 8| may-be turned, rotated orarcuately oscillated onits axis without frictional engagement with-thelug 28b to such position that the notch 8lc will register with and clearthe lug 25b and the tongue 8|b will be in position to engage the lug 28bupon the movement of the friction box toward the right of the machine.

This movement of the plate 8| so that its notch 8|c is shifted fromregistration with the lug 28b to registration with the lug 25b iseffected by the action of the cam III on the levers 41 and If. The cam88 is pref-,

erably so shaped that it effects the movement of the plate 8| only onevery other upward movement of the slide 18-, so that theplate 8| ismoved by its cam 88 only when the friction-box 21 is at the left handend of themachine, looking from the front. Similarly the cam 88 is sopositioned and shaped relativelyto the cam 88 and to the plate 88 thatthe latter is moved only on every other upward movement of the slide 18and when the friction box 21 -is,at the right hand end ofthe machine.Each cam 88 and 88 is so shaped that it may move its corresponding plate8| or 88 to any one of three positions, viz., to a position in which thenotch in the plate will register with the lug 28b, a position in whichthe notch in the plate will register with the lug 28b, and a position inwhich the notch in the plate is behind and will'not register with any ofthe lugs, as for gages the end of the lug 24b to prevent itsjump ing outof its position as a result of the impact caused by the stoppageof therod 28a.

The plate as is now shifted byitscam a so that 8lb to engage the lug 28band move .j the right, and when the rightward its notch 88c registerswith the lug 28b and its tongue 88b engages the lug 24b. The plate 8| isnot shifted in this position of the friction'box.

The friction box then moves leftwardly and the 5 tongue 88b carriesleftwardly the lug- 24b and leaves the carrier 28 at the right hand endof the machine. On the completion of this leftward movement the tongue88a engages the end of the lug 28b so as to prevent its jumping out as aresult of the impact caused by the stoppage, of the rod 24a, the notch8|c having of course. permitted the plate 8| to pass the lug 28b in itsleftward movement.

The plate 8| is now shifted by its cam so. that its notch 8 le occupiesits extreme rearward position and the tongue 8|b engages. the lug 25b.On the movement of the friction box 21 to the right, the notch 880permits the passage of the plate 88 past the lug 28b, which however, isthen I en'gagedby the tongue 8|b, to prevent the lug 28b from jumpingout as acre'sult of the impact caused,by the stoppage of the rod 250. f

The plate 88 is then shifted by its cam so that its notch 88c registerswith the lug 28b and its tongue 88b engages the end of the lug 28b. Uponthe leftward movement of the friction box 21,

the tongue 88b moves leftward the lug 28b and on the completion ofthe'throw the tongue 88b engages the end of the lug 24b and prevents itan from jumping out of its place.

At the conclusion of the leftward-movement, the plate 8| is shifted byits cam so that its notch 8lc registers with the lug 28b and its tongue8|b engages the lug 24b and carries it toward the right. The notch 880permits the plate 88 to pass the lug 28b, which, however, is

engaged by the tongue 8|a and prevented from jumping out of position asa result of the impact due to the stopp ge oi the rod 24a. At theconclusion of this movement of the friction box toward the right, theplate 88 is shifted by its cam so that its notch 88a is moved to itsextreme rearward position and its tongue 88b engages the lug 25b, andthedescribed cycle of operation is repeated.

' My improved attachment isprimarily designed for laying yarns fromdifferent sources. 'a'ndaeach composed of continuous sections of varyingthickness, one after another to permit the knitting of fabric'as shownin Fig. l.

As illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. l, the course of loops la waslaid on the sinkers 28 by the carrier 28 from yarn drawnfrom the cone-IAduring a movement of the carriep-tnfrom left to right, as hereinbeforedescribed. The laid'yarn, after being acted on by the dividers in theusual manner, was knittedby the needles 22 through Y the last course ofthe .welt section A. -When the course of loops la was completed,thecarrier 28 was left at the right hand end of the machine and thecarrier 24, was connected with the friction box as "hereinbeforedescribed and moved toward the left. During such movementfthe carrier 24laid on the sinkers 28 a yarn 2 drawn from a second supplyor cone 2A,-this yarn being laid from right to'left and in-position .to be interwiththe course la. by thg knitting needles 22 toform the courses of loops2a. When the: "course of loops 2a was completed, the carrier 28 wasconnected with thefriction box as hereinbefore described-and laid. ayarn 8 from a third cone or source of supply 8A. 'Thecarrier 28 movedfrom left to right and placed a section of the yarn.8 on the sinkers inposition to be divided and knitted into the course ad" to form thecourse of loops 3a.

' sequence described.

In practice, it resultsfthat any subnormal or abnormal thickness of asection of the yarn l is The carrier 23 was then moved by the frictionbox from right to left to lay a section of yarn I on the sinkers inposition to be knitted by the needles 22 through the course 3 a. Whenthis yarn section had been interlaced by the needlesto form the courselb, the carrier was moved by the friction box from left to right, to theposition shown, to lay a further section of the yarn 2 in position onthe sinkers for-interlacingwith the course lb. The dividers and needleswere then operated to form thecourse of loops 2b interlaced with thecourse of loops lb. The carrier 25 was then moved from the right towardthe left to lay a further section of yarn 3 in position to be knitted bythe needles through the course of loops 2!) as shown. Such knittingwillresult in the formation of a course of loops 3b and the knitting may becontinued by repeatedly forming courses'from the different-yarns in thetions in the thickness of different sections of the yarn 2 arecompensated for by unlike variations in the yarns l and3; and variationsin the thick:

nesses of sectionsof the yarn 3 are compensated for by unlike variationsin the thickness of adja a and has a juniform average density andtexture iso that fabrics containing the same. number of cent sections.of the yarns] and 2." The result is that the fabric as a whole has auniform average sheerness free of any disfiguring bands of'notice ablewidth of excessive-orinsufilcient sheerne'ss,

courses are of substantially the same length and shade.

- Having described my invention', I

1. Ina knitting machine, aplurality of yarn;-

carriers, a plurality of sources of yarn supply from which therespectivecarriers draw yarn, carrier rods with which .the respective carriers areconnected, a friction boxi having connected therewith a pair ofselectors, each movable into position to engage or disengage each of theaforesaid carrier rods, and means for shifting the respective selectorswhile positioned out of operating engagement with said rods. V a 2; In aknitting machine, the combination with 55- a plurality of carrier barsand stops therefor of a plurality of selectors for operating said barsin another bar is impacted against its stop by the movement of saidselector. Y

3. In a knitting machine, thecombination with when another of said ba'rsis against its stop by the movement of said first selector, and meansfor positioning the second selector to check the jumping of a thirdcarrier barwhen the first named carrier bar isimpacted against its stopby the movement of the second selector.

4.- In a knitting machine,'actuating means including a friction box forcausingtraverse in rotation of three or more carrier rods, stops for therods at the ends of their traverse, and means traversely movable withsaid friction'box for confining and holding each rod against its stop ateach end of its active traverse, thereby preventing rebound thereof, andat the same time for confining and holding against rebound at the sameend any idle rod resting there.

5. A knitting machine having at least three yarn carrier rodslongitudinally shiftable leftward and rightward in their yarn layingtraverse movements, and end stops limiting the left and right traversemovements of the rods, in combination with a longitudinallyreciprocating frictlon box, and rod-engaging means carried by andtraversely' shiftable with said friction box; with control connectionsoperating to vary methodically the position of said rod-engaging meanstocause said rod-engaging means to engage selectively the carrier rodsto thrust them leftward and rightward in rotation in successivetraverses and to cause said means to hold each rod against its stop atthe end of its each traversing shift to prevent rebound thereof and atthe same time to cause said means to engage and hold positively againstdisplacement at the same end of each traverse an idle carrier rodresting there.

' 6. In a knitting machine, actuating means including a friction boxshiftableleftward and rightward for causing traverse in rotation of ingparts, one of such partsengaging and traversely shifting an active rodin each traversing operation and thereupon confining and holding theshifted rod against its stop at the end of its active traverse, andanother of such parts at the end of the same traversing action engagingand holding against its stop another rodv resting idly at the same end,whereby each traversed active f. rod and adjacent idle rod are preventedfrom rebound'or displacement from their stopped positions.

7. In a knitting machine, actuating mechanism including a friction boxfor causing traverse in rotation of three or more carrier rods,

stops for the rods at each end of their traverse, said actuatingmechanism'including means traversely movable with said friction box forconfining and holding each rod against its stop at each end of itsactive traverse, thereby preventing rebound thereof, and forconfiningand holding 7 against rebound at the same end any idle rodsequence, one of said selectors being positioned to check the jumping ofa bar aforesaid when resting there.-

8.-The combination in a flat knitting machine of a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, driving dogs on said barsrespectively, driving means for said bars operable parallel thereto andincluding rotary means provided with a plurality of dog-eng n parts andintermediate dog-clearing spaces, and means for intermittently actuatingsaid rotary means to align predetermined parts and spaces withpredetermined dogs for selectively coupling said bars to said means;

9. mm combination in a flat knitting machine of 'a. plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, driving dogs on said barsrespectively, driving means for said bars operable parallel thereto andincluding a pair of rotary laterally V spaced elements provided with aplurality of dog-' engaging lugs and intermediate dog-clearing spaces,and means for actuating said elements 9 selectively coupling said barsto said driving I intermittently for aligning predetermined lugsv tentlyfor aligning predetermined lugs and spaces thereof with predetermineddogs on said bars for 11. The combination in a flat knitting machine ofa plurality of longitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, drivingdogs on said bars respectively, driving means for said bars operableparallel thereto and including a pair of rotary laterally spacedelements adapted for independent rotation and each provided with aplurality of dog-engaginglugs and intermediate dog-clearing spaces, I

and means for alternatelyactuating said elements intermittently foraligning predetermined lugs and spaces thereof with predetermined dogson said bars for selectively couplinglsaid bars to said driving means.

12. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat knittingmachine, of

a pair of rotary elements carried by said driving device andrespectively provided with a plurality of carrier bar engaging lugs andintermediate bar-clearing spaces for selectively coupling said bars tosaid driving device.

' 13. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a fiat knittingmachine, of apair of rotary elements carried by said driving device andrespectively provided with a plurality of carrier bar engaging lugs, andintermediate bar-clearing spaces, and a cam adapted for reciprocationparallel to, with, and in excess of said driving device to actuate saidrotary elements for.

selectively coupling said bars to said driving device. v 14. Thecombination with a device adapted for driving a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat'knittingmachine, of a pair of rotary elements carried by said driving device andrespectively provided with a plurality of bar-engaging lugs andintermediate bar-clearing spaces, means carried by said driving devicefor intermittently rotating saidelements, and means operable independentof said driving device for actuating said element rotating means.

ing spaces, means carried by said driving device for intermittentlyrotating said elements, and a cam adapted for operation parallel to,concurrently with, and in excess of said driving device for actuatingsaid element-rotating means.

16. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat knittingmachine, of a pair of rotary elements carried by said driving device andrespectively provided with a plurality of bar-engaging lugs andintermediate bar-clear ing spaces, means carried by said driving devicefor intermittently rotating said elements, and means operableindependent of said driving device for actuating said element-rotatingmeans.

17. The'combination in a flat knitting machine of a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrierbars, a friction box drive rodlongitudinally reciprocal parallel to said carrier bars, a friction boxmounted on said drive rod, a pair of rotary elements carried by saidfriction, box and respectively provided with a plurality of carrier barengaging lugs and intermediate carrier bar clearing spaces, andratcheting mechanism for intermittently rotating said rotary elementsfor selectively coupling said carrier bars to said friction box.

18. The combination in a flat knitting machine of a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, a friction box drive rodand a slur cock bar longitudinally reciprocal parallel to said carrierbars, a friction, box mounted on said'drive rod, a pair of rotaryelements carried by said friction box and respectively provided with aplurality of carrier bar engaging lugs and intermediatecarrier-bar-clearing spaces, ratcheting mechanism for intermittentlyrotating said rotary elements for selectively coupling said. carrierbars to said friction box, and a cam carried by said slur cock bar foractuating said ratcheting mechanism. I

19. In a full fashioned knitting machine, the combination of a set ofthread carrying bars, a pair of friction rod-operated actuatorstherefor, a shaft upon which said actuators are slidably keyed, andflight bar operated means for rotating said shaft in step by stepfashion in the operation oithe machine to selectively engage saidactuators with different thread carrying bars.

20. In a knitting machine, a plurality of yarn -carriers.'a separatecourse ofyarn supply from plurality of selectors'for operating saidbars' 'in sequence, and means for automatically shifting one only ofsaid selectors relatively to said carrier bars after a movement of a barin one ldirectlonand. shifting-another only of-said selectors relativelyto'said carrier bars after movement ofa second bar in the oppositedirection. 21. In a knitting machine, a plurality of yarn carriers, aplurality of sources-of yarn supply from r which the respective carriersdraw yarn, carrier rods with which the respective carriers areconnected, a friction box having connected therewith a pair of-slectorsfor operatingsaid rods, ,friction bar on which said box ismounted,

operable by a moving part of said knitting machine for automaticallyshifting one of said selectors relatively to said carrier rods duringthe overthrow of said friction bar. at one end only of the machine andfor automatically shifting the other of said selectors relatively tosaid car-- rier rods during the. overthrow of said friction bar at theother end only of the machine.

22. A knitting machine comprising a plurality of yarn carriers, carrierrods with which the carriers are respectively connected, a reciprocablefriction box, a pair-of selectors carried by the friction box, and meansfor automatically operating said selectors alternately and respectivelyafter the movement of said friction box -said bar having an overthrowbeyond the maxiv 'mum overthrow'of said carrier rods, and means 23. Incombination, in a knitting machine, a set of knitting elements, firstand second yarn carriers disposed in starting position at one and thesame side of said set, a third yarn carrier l disposed in startingposition at the opposite side of said set, and means comprising a pairof selectors shiftable at different times and each having a plurality ofcarrier actuating tongues for operating said first and second carriersto alternately lay courses across the set in one direction and'the thirdcarrier to lay a course across the set in the opposite direction betweenthe 8.11 ternations of the first and second carriers. I

24. In a knitting machine, a plurality of yarn carriers, a separatesource of supply from which each carrier lays yarn, carrier bars withwhich the respective carriers are connected, means including areciprocating friction-box rod for moving said bars, a pair of selectorsconnecting the respective bars in. sequence with said frictionbox rod,and means for turning one of said selectors on an axis only after eachmovement of the friction-box in one direction and for turning the otherof said selectors on an axis only after each 55 movement of thefriction-box inthe opposite direction.

25. In aknitting machine, the combination with a plurality of carrierbars and a reciprocable friction-box rod for effecting movements of saidcarrier bars, of means comprising mechanism having a member operativelyconnecting the friction-box rod with a carrier bar and transmittingmovement to said carrier bar from the friction-box rod during movementthereof in one direction, said selector mechanism having a second membershiftable to operatively connect said friction-box rod with a. secondcarrier bar at the end of the movement of thefirst carrier bar and whilesaid first member remains stationary, relatively to said first carrierbar,

said first member being shii'table to operatively engage a third carrierbar with said friction-box red at the end of the movement of the secondnamed carrier bar while said second member remains .stationary relativeto said second carrier bar, said second member being shiftable tooperatively connect with said friction-box rod the first named carrierbar at the end of the moveselector ment ofthe third named carrier barand while said first member remains stationary relative to the thirdcarrier bar, means for shifting said selector mechanism members in thesequence set forth, and means for moving said friction-box rod betweenthe shifts of said selector mechanism members. i

,26. In a knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of carrierbars of reciprocable selector mechanism comprising a. pair of selectors,one of said selectors being movable to ositions for engaging one oranother of a plurality of carrier bars at the end of the movements ofsaid selector mechanism in one direction only, and the other of saidselectors being shiftable to positions for engaging one or another of aplurality of carrier bars at the end of the movement of said selectormechanism in.

said driving means with carrier bars for the selective operationthereof, said mech-' anism including a pair of selectorsonly one ofwhich is operated by said:slur ;;bar on its throw in one direction andthe other, offwhich only is operated by said slur bar onitsgthrowin theoth-' er .direction.

28. In a full fashioned knitting gmachine, the combination of aplurality of yarn jcarriers, a friction rod and a friction box therefor,a rotatable and axially shiftable carnfshaft, means comprising apair ofselectors movable with and relative .to said friction box forselective-operative engagement with any. of said carriersrand anactuating device comprising an'element bodily reciprocablyshiftablelongitudinally-of the ma ;chine and independently of said friction boxfor transmitting anflactuating'impulse to said means to efiect aselective operative engagement of one only of said selectors on themovement of said element in onedirection and of the other only of saidselectors; onthemovement of said element in the opposite direction;

29. A knitting machine comprising a plurality of yarn carriers, carrierrods with" which the carriers' arev respectively. connected, areciprocable friction box, a pair of selectors carried by said.frictionbox and each adapted to engage and move one of said rods and tohold said moved rod and another of said rods concurrently at the end ofthe movement of the first named rod and without movement of saidselector relatively to said first named rod at the end of the throwthereof.

30. In a knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of yarncarriers and stops therefor, of a plurality of selectors for operatingsaid yarn carriers in sequence, one of said selectors havinga memberchecking the jumping of ayarn carrier aforesaid when [another'yarncarrier is moved to its fstop-position. "I V g 31. In a knitting machinehiaving three or more carrier rods, stop means for theseveral rods ateach end of" their traverse, and; aplurality of thrusters to cause theshifting traverse ofv each rod in rotationwith the other, rods-means formoving all the thrusters concurrently in. each traversing operation, andmeans for selectively controlling on one traverse the position 'of'onethruster and on thenext traverse the position of another thruster asbetween operative and idle} positions, with methodical change of controlto cause the saidoperation' of rods in'rotation, each thruster afterbeing shifted being adapted tocause the traverse "of a rod; and at, theendof and hold the'rod against said traverse to confine said stop means.r

32.111 a knitting machine, the combination with a'plurality of carrierbars, of two selectors for moving said bars in sequence, and means formoving each of said selectors into position for engaging a member' ofone of said rods while 7 such member is biased by the other of.

tors in stationary relation'thereto;

- 33. In combination, in a knitting machine, several yarn carriers, acorresponding number of yarn sources for several connection to thecarriers, carrier rods to which the respective carriers are connected,selector mechanism for operating said rods in sequence, and comprising apair of selectors each having a plurality of tongues movable intopositions for engaging a plurality of carrier rods, the tongues of eachse-. lector being spaced to permit such selector to said selecpassalonga carrier rod without engagement therewith;-

of the stocking web, one of said selectors being 34. In a knittingmachine, the combination with a plurality of carrier bars each having amember forengagement by a selector, of a plurality of selectors eachhaving a plurality of spaced tongues and each movable into positions forengaging one after another the members of a plurality of bars, andmeans. for shifting said selectors to operate said carrier bars insequence.

35. In a knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of carrierbars each having a member engageable by a selector, of a plurality ofselectors each having .a notcher edge permitting rectilineal movement ofthe selector relatively to a bar member, and means for shifting saidselectors to move the notches thereinitransversely relatively to saidbars.

36. In a knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of carrierbars each having a member for engagement by a selector, of a pair ofselectors for moving said bars rectilineally in sequence, said selectorshaving one of said members between them during the rectilineal movementof a bar and being so spaced that when one of said members is stationaryrelative to one selector at the end of its ,rectilineal movement the forautomatically connecting said box with each of said carrier rods so thatits particular yarn carrier will only feed yarn to the knitting 40'needles during the knitting of every third course stationary and holdingthe friction box against movement during the. overthrow of said frictionrod and the shift of the other of said selectors.

38. The combination, in a flat knitting machine, having means forknitting yarn into courses of loops, of a group of three longitudinallyreciprocable thread carrier bars each having a driving dog thereon,driving means for said bars reciprocable parallel thereto, and selectingmeans including dog engaging means traversing v with said driving meansand also operating to and fro transversely of said bars generallyparallel to the plane of said bars for changing the driving connectionfrom one bar of said group of three to another between every twosucceeding courses for selectively operating the bars of said groupseriatim to effect a complete cycle of operations thereof, saidselecting means also including dual cam means delivering positivethrusts some in one direction and some in the reverse direction foreffecting three selective movements of a single member of said dogengaging means and for moving said single member in unilateralcontinuous steps of varying lengths so that said single member driveseach of said bars.

39. In aflat hosiery knitting machine provided with a reciprocablefriction rod, a friction box thereon; and a multiplicity of carrier rodseach having means thereon adapted to be engaged by 'a driving member,the combination of a member pivotally mounted on said box to movetransverselyto the path thereof and having means adapted for drivingengagement with said means on each of said carrier rods, selector camsarranged to move said pivoted member into driving engagement with saidrods in predetermined sequence and means to move said cams stepwisealways in the same direction. 'PAUL 1mm

